A World War Two Air Crew Europe Casualty Medal Group to a Sergeant who flew with 101 Squadron and who was lost along with is entire crew on a raid to Berlin on the 17th January 1943. This group of medals was posthumously awarded to 1195460 Sergeant James Henry Bakewell who came from Woodville in Derbyshire / Staffordshire. The group includes the follows. Air Crew Europe Star. Named Air Council Medal Slip. Named Medal Enclosure Ticker Slip – glued to a display board. Full details of James’s service, 101 squadron history and details of his operational and aborted flights. A letter from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. James was part of’B’ flight 101 Squadron flying on Lancaster I bomber W4321 SR-P on the 16th / 17th January. They took off from Holme on Moor airfield in Yorkshire at 16:30pm carrying a bomb load of 1x 4,000 LB bomb and 8 S. S (4lb incendiary bombs). They were one of 5 aircraft from Holme on Moor that took off that night for the raid on Berlin. A total of 170 Lancaster and 17 Halifax bombers took part in the raid on Berlin. This was the famous raid where the BBC new reporter Richard Dimbleby was an observer and reporter on the aircraft flown by 106 Squadron Leader, Wing Commander Guy Gibson (later VC). Due to the clear weather, and fact that the bombers took exactly the same route as a large raid the night before, a total of 19 Lancaster bombers and 3 Halifax bombers were lost on the raid due to German night fighters and anti-aircraft fire from the ground. James’s aircraft – serial number W4321 – was one of those aircraft which was lost without trace. He and the rest of his crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. James’s name is on Panel 141 of the memorial. The raid on Berlin was only their second operational mission and their operational career had lasted only 9 days. James was the son of Sydney and Ellen Bakewell of Woodville, Derbyshire / Staffordshire and he was 22 years old when he was killed. The group includes a photo of an airman but I do not believe that this is the recipient of the medals. Please let me know if you need any additional photos or information. Thanks and kind regards. The item “Air Crew Europe Star Casualty Medal Group RAF 101 Squadron Raid on Berlin” is in sale since Thursday, April 29, 2021. This item is in the category “Collectables\Militaria\World War II (1939-1945)\Medals/ Ribbons”. The seller is “harrypitt69″ and is located in Nottingham. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Modified Item: No
- Country/ Organization: Great Britain
- Issued/ Not-Issued: Issued
- Theme: Militaria
- Type: Medals & Ribbons
- Conflict: World War II (1939-1945)
- Service: Air Force
- Era: 1914-1945
- Featured Refinements: Medal Group